Jazana bristled. The audience gaped. Rodrik Varl turned red-faced and made to face Thorin, but the queen jerked him back with her invisible leash.
‘Keep your place, Rodrik,’ she ordered. To Thorin, she seemed to shake with effort. ‘Baron Glass is obviously toying with us. But even a man as stupid as he must see what he’s up against.’ She smiled at Thorin. ‘Men must play their games, I suppose. If it makes you feel better to insult me before you grovel, than by all means do so, Thorin.’
‘I never grovel, Jazana. After all our years together you should know that. I have come to talk peace with you,’ Thorin lied. ‘Not to cajole or perform for you. You have your jesters for that; I’m not one of them.’
‘Yet here you are, Thorin, because you are threatened by me,’ Jazana pointed out. The irony of it was delicious to her. ‘See how Andola bends to me? The people love me, Thorin, because I care for them. Just as I promised I would.’
‘Oh, you are a woman that keeps your promises, no doubt about it,’ quipped Thorin. He was uncomfortable standing in the centre of so many eyes, and knew she had planned things to humiliate him. ‘Who else would go to such lengths for a promised vengeance? Only you, dear Jazana. I can think of no other so relentless.’
Never one to give in to insults, Jazana countered, ‘I had not expected to see you so soon, though, Thorin. To be truthful I was not sure you’d show at all. It is safe in the desert, no? It’s so much easier for a man to hide than to face battle.’ She looked at him and grinned. ‘And you are half a man, after all.’
Her loyal men lining the chamber snickered nervously, the first sound any of them had made. Thorin noted with some surprise that Kaj, his old mercenary companion, did not laugh. Rather he kept his eyes on the polished floor. It reminded Thorin of what Onikil had told him — not everyone was pleased with Jazana Carr’s war.
‘The desert was a refuge from you, Jazana,’ he said. ‘After sixteen years with you, even the desert seemed a blessed relief.’
For the first time he’d said something that cut her. Her lower lip jutted out in the slightest pout.
Strike now, he told himself. She was only yards from him, and there was no way Varl could stop him. His arm twitched, craving his sword. The armour’s power flowed through him.
‘What is that you wear?’ asked Jazana suddenly. Her eyes squinted on his armour. ‘Not Liirian armour, I see.’ She puzzled over it, clearly sensing something amiss. ‘I have never seen the like of it before.’
‘It is Jadori armour, my queen,’ answered Count Onikil. He smiled, pleased with himself. ‘It is of a very fine make. I have looked at it closely.’
‘Indeed?’ Jazana Carr got up from her throne and descended the dais. Rodrik Varl shadowed her as she neared Thorin. She reached out a hand to touch the armour, a gesture that shocked Thorin. He stepped back quickly. Amused by his fear, Jazana grinned. ‘Now come along, Thorin,’ she said. ‘You never feared my touch before.’
He held up his hand — his genuine, right hand — and said, ‘That time has passed, Jazana.’
His rebuke stopped her cold. In plain sight of everyone, they simply stared at each other. Her breath fell warm on his face. Varl was looking at them, his face furious. The abject jealousy made Kahldris laugh; Thorin’s brain rang with the evil sound.
Look at her! the demon sang. Look how she craves you!
Cravings swamped Thorin suddenly — for blood, for power, for the conquest of a woman. .
Enough, Kahldris! he silently screamed. Do not force these feelings on me!
Jazana pursed her pretty lips. ‘You are much changed, Thorin,’ she said, studying his face. ‘The Jadori. . this armour. . It has all made you bold.’
Was she glad he had come? Her tone hinted at pleasure.
‘I have come for the good of Liiria, Jazana.’ Thorin stood his ground as best he could, though his hand ached to loose his sword. ‘Let us talk. Please. .’
He couldn’t kill her and didn’t know why. Jazana nodded, their game over.
‘We will talk,’ she agreed. The audience finally began breathing again. ‘Rest, Thorin. Tomorrow we will have much to discuss.’ There was no triumph in her eyes, only a soft relief. ‘You are brave to have come here alone.’
The compliment surprised Thorin — but he knew it wouldn’t save her. At last he gave her the bow she so much desired.
‘Thank you, Jazana,’ he said, never taking his eyes off her.
Jazana gestured toward his arm. ‘What of that? You wear a wooden arm now?’
It was small talk — something to diffuse the tension. Grateful for it, Thorin nodded.
‘A fake, yes,’ he said. ‘The armour fits better with it.’
A flash of understanding passed between them. Even with one arm, she had called him her tiger in bed.
‘It suits you,’ said Jazana. ‘You seem. . more whole.’ She turned and went back to her throne. Sitting down on it again, she looked uncomfortable this time. ‘Rodrik will take you to your chambers,’ she told Thorin. ‘I’ll send for you tomorrow. Count Onikil, remain with me, please. We have much to talk about.’
Varl stepped forward unhappily, gesturing toward the exit. ‘Come on, Thorin,’ he said thickly.
Thorin gave Jazana a last glance before heading for the doors. He had been so close; he could have killed her in an instant. But he was glad he hadn’t done so yet. There was one thing he wanted before taking her life.
He would have it tonight.
40
That night, Jazana Carr found sleeping impossible. She had left the throne room shortly after meeting Thorin, leaving her underlings to deal with Count Onikil and his tedious reports. Instead of eating her midday meal with Rodrik, as was their custom, she had declined company entirely for the seclusion of her own chambers, where her body servant, Habran, massaged her skin and rubbed her feet with oil while she reclined in the enormous bathtub. Her chambers had once belonged to Ravel himself, and the bathtub was the same one the baron had killed himself in. At first Jazana had been repulsed by the place but soon Ravel’s lavish good taste had won her over, and she had learned to adore the opulent rooms. Tonight, she needed the comforting confines. There was much on her mind, much she had never expected to feel again. As Habran worked the aches out of her muscles, Jazana tried to quiet her troubles.
After her long bath Rodrik had come to see her, to tell her that he had found rooms for Thorin on the ground floor and had seen to all his needs. Her loyal bodyguard curbed his jealousy as best he could, but the taint of it burned in his expression. Refusing to speak further about Thorin, Jazana dismissed Rodrik for the night. Wearing only her sleep gown and robe, she went out onto the fabulous balcony with a cup of tea, dismissing the rest of her servants with orders not to disturb her. She remained on the balcony until very late, watching Andola drift off to sleep but unable to feel tired herself. An hour after she had finished her tea, she was still on the balcony, afraid to go to bed.
Thorin had surprised her. She had hoped he was alive, but had never guessed he would come to her again. He wanted peace; that much was clear. But did he want something else? She feared to hope it. Rodrik had been so good to her, so kind. He had struggled mightily to take Thorin’s place, but the task had been impossible and she had never deigned to take him to her bed.
Her bed had seemed so empty lately.
Jazana pulled the robe closer around her shoulders, staving off the chill. Spring had come with boldness, but the nights were still long and always bore a cool breeze. But Ravel had built a lovely hearth of polished stone in his bedchamber and her servants had already lit a fire there for her. She had seen them sneaking in and out to tend to it, sure that she would want it when ready.